Tuesday’s letters to the editor, Dec. 1

Over the years, I changed from Catholic to agnostic. Christianity had meaning when I was young receiving the church’s sacraments. Now, it seems a waste the church imposed financially on my parents through white suits, uniforms and education. Fortunately, I had a few professors who stressed not religion but character.

I am a Democrat, moderate and rationalize fair, but the Republican candidates who wear Christianity on their sleeves is reasonable proof of my doubt of deity.

The Mexico immigration issue the Republicans opposed became lackluster. Now, they are fighting each other to carry the flag staff to stop the Syrian immigration. This crusade of theirs is generating fear and cynicism throughout our nation and for them to effectuate this mood for a vote denotes an extreme deficiency of character.

I am much aware that there are many crazies in the world and in our country but have confidence in our law enforcers to protect us. Isolating the world outside our borders will only inspire more resentment to our country. I heard an inane statement recently, “I bet that shooter in Fort Myers at Zombicon was an ISIS terrorist.” Keep it up Republicans. Soon, you will be having neighbor shooting neighbor.

- William Young, Cape Coral

America united

Yet again, our nation is divided. This happens in every election window, as our two-party system looks to divide and conquer. There are so many issues that divide us along those party lines, but in reality, there are so many more issues which unite us.

We love America and the freedoms we are afforded here. We may disagree on the scope and definition of those freedoms, but let us agree that freedom beats the alternative. Our ability to disagree with our government, both in vocal dissent and silent protest, is a part of those freedoms afforded us. We likely agree that our military has paid a price most of us will never be asked to pay for those same freedoms. Perhaps we can soon come to an agreement on how to better serve those veterans for their sacrifice.

We can disagree on building walls, testing students, healthcare for the less fortunate, overseas military operations and even the future of our national parks. But, let us agree that America is worth saving. America is worth resolving our differences and staying at the negotiation table until we get it right. When we stop talking, when the discourse of dissent ceases, so does America.

There once was a political organization known as the Grand Old Party. Whether or not you agreed with its policies, you usually found its presidential candidates to be of high quality, from Lincoln and Roosevelt to Dewey and Dole. While there are some capable candidates today, a look at those leading in the polls suggests that the party isn’t so grand any more.

One is a loose cannon, apparently willing to say anything and insult anybody to get media coverage. Another is a religious bigot who is so far removed from reality that he thinks armed Jewish civilians would have been a match for Nazi Germany’s SS or army. Another boldly lied to us, making up out of whole cloth a totally false description of a Planned Parenthood fetus. And a fourth not only lies about his personal finances, but puts his personal presidential ambitions above his attendance as a public servant at a responsible job to which he was elected and swore to uphold. The Republican party can and should do better. Many Republicans who are voting Democratic or not voting at all say that they didn’t leave the party, but that the current radical right version of the party left them. They hope that in the future they can rejoin a party that has become grand again.

No small irony that the majority of Germans in the 30s and 40s identified as “Christians.” Their leaders murdered approximately 6 million people, many of them Jews, but many victims were Christians and of other faiths.

Several hundred thousand German POWs were imprisoned in the United States. After the war, thousands were allowed to immigrate to the United States and seek citizenship. These were “soldiers;” not women, children, or civilian men. They were not “guilty by association” with their ostensibly Christian leaders and countrymen who participated in the horrific genocide.

Now, the thought of 10,000 Syrian (mostly Muslim) refugees is sending us into a frenzy. Have Muslim extremists there killed six million?

Are times so different now? What inscription do you prefer?

- Tom Chase, Fort Myers

Marlette needs a time-out

Once again, congratulations to the editors of The News Press, for printing a vile cartoon by Andy Marlette on Nov. 12.

The attempt at humor/satire by the liberal buffoon Marlette, depicts Santa Clause, a Christian symbol, referring to someone he disagrees with as a “Schmuck”. I suggest that the editors obtain a Yiddish (Jewish) dictionary and look up the definition of that word, apologize to the readers and than go and wash Marlette’s mouth out with soap.